Now and Forever (Wild at Heart #2) - Mary Connealy

This is the second book in the Wild at Heart series.  The first book is called Tried and True.

Tucker’s day isn’t going well.  He’s distracted by something he’s seen and suddenly finds himself trying to get away from an angry bear.  He runs into Shannon and they both end up over a cliff and into the Slaughter River, named because no one comes out the other end alive.

Shannon gets them to safety, but now they have a larger problem.  There’s no way they can follow the deadly river to safety, so they need to follow a cave and hope to come out the other side alive.  Once they’re on the outside, they’re surrounded by friends that are fond of storytelling.  To save Shannon’s reputation, Tucker is going to have to marry her.

Not sure how they’re going to make it work, they’ve got time to figure things out while Tucker recovers from his wounds from their adventure.  Tucker has no intentions of raising sheep, and Shannon isn’t interested in being shut up in a cabin for months on end while her husband is off trapping.  Add to that the mystery of homesteaders being burned off their land, and Shannon has her plate full.

This was a nice book.  I liked the first one better, but this one had its moments as well.  I thought the end was a little strange, as Shannon seemed to change her opinion on things without the fire and determination that she’d shown through so much of the book.  Overall, it was pretty good.

The next book in the series, Fire and Ice, is going to be about the third sister, Bailey, and Gage.  Kylie and Aaron, from Tried and True, show up in this book and their story is mentioned, but I still think you can read them out of order.  Fire and Ice is due out October 6, 2015.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hearts Made Whole (Beacons of Hope #2) - Jody Hedlund

This is the second book in the series.  There’s a novella, Out of the Storm, and then the first full-length book, Love Unexpected.  The series is brought together with the common thread of a wooden cross.  The characters in the novella tell the original story of the cross, and the first book is the next set of people to get it.

Ryan is the brother of Emma, the heroine in Love Unexpected.  He’s been through the Civil War and has come out wounded both emotionally and physically.  He’s been drowning his pain and sorrows in whiskey and opium.  He gets the job at the lighthouse hoping to save enough money to pay for some of his past mistakes.  When he falls asleep in what he thinks is an abandoned house, he awakens to a fluffy beating.

Caroline has been caring for her family for a long time.  First her mother died, and now she’s had to watch her father drown in front of her eyes.  The man who oversees the lighthouse workers is determined to get her out of the lighthouse, but Caroline’s got her siblings, one of whom is very ill, that she has to care for.  When she finds the new lighthouse keeper in her bed, she wants to resent him, but knows that it’s not really his fault.  She can also see his deep hurt and wants him to heal.

Strange things begin to happen around the lighthouse, some of them dangerous and others just disturbing.  It seems like someone wants Caroline out of the lighthouse, but why?  She’s had an offer of marriage from one of the single men in town, but she doesn’t think she can love him.  But if that’s the only way she can save her family, will she consider it?  Her heart is leading her to Ryan, but he has a lot of healing to do.

This was a great story of looking past the surface to the person underneath.  I appreciate the author making the characters, especially Ryan, realistic.  He struggles with his addictions and doesn’t just have them cured overnight.  He stumbles and gets back up.  He sees that he needs to heal in the right way and get himself in order.  There’s some sadness in there, starting at the very beginning, and some animal cruelty that made me sad.

The other characters are mentioned in passing and the cross that ties the stories together is passed on.  Even though the other characters are mentioned, you could read this one by itself if you want to.  I do recommend you read the novella first, just so you know the significance of the wooden cross.  The novella is free, so you’re not risking anything.  I look forward to more from this author.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Worthy Pursuit - Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer is one of my favorite romance authors.  Her style of writing immerses you in a story so you feel like you’re on the journey with the characters.  Given the chance to read this book, I jumped at it!

When the school for exceptional children that Charlotte teaches at is unexpectedly closed, she takes three of the students in the middle of the night and hits the road.  Fearing for the safety of the little girl, Lily, she covers her tracks and hides her away.  Charlotte doesn’t know why Lily’s mother didn’t want the girl in the care of her grandfather, but she’s determined to honor those wishes.

Stone has been hired by the grandfather to retrieve the girl.  He’s always believed he was good at what he did, but his arrival at the house Charlotte and the kids are staying at is not very convincing.  The caretaker gets the drop on him, but the real surprise is Charlotte herself.  Stone discovers that she’s not a heartless kidnapper, but a caring guardian willing to do what it takes to protect the children in her care.

Charlotte has the paperwork to prove her guardianship, but Stone wants to verify the facts before deciding how to proceed.  Even after he’s convinced of her right to the child, they still have a problem.  The grandfather has connections in high places and can always just hire another retriever to grab the girl.  Charlotte is going to have to trust Stone with her children and her heart to make it through the trials that are waiting for them.  It’s a good thing Stone is dedicated to winning her over.

I loved so many aspects of this book and read it in two days.  The author’s ability to inject so much personality into her characters always amazes me.  The depth given to Charlotte especially really impressed me.  I was able to read about her background and understand her trust issues without her dwelling on it and bringing it up all the time.  Stone was also a great character.  I loved each of the children with their unique talents.  Even the minor characters, like Dead-Eye-Dan, had depth and personality.  All in all, this is a wonderful tale and I highly recommend it.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Scattered Petals (Texas Dreams #2) - Amanda Cabot

This is the second book in the Texas Dreams series.  The first one is Paper Dreams.

Priscilla and her parents are on their way to Texas to attend a wedding.  Even though she started her journey as an adventure, Priscilla ends her trip with a stagecoach holdup that takes the lives of both her parents and one of the bandits raping her.  She's saved by a kind Texas Ranger who makes sure she makes it to her destination.  She's struggling with her new life and finding out she's pregnant just makes her life more complicated.

Zach works on the ranch where Priscilla is trying to recuperate.  Unfortunately, he looks like one of her attackers, and she keeps her distance.  Zach's heart is hurting as well, and he doesn't wish to make her life more difficult.  When he finds out that she's pregnant, he offers to marry her knowing he may never have a real marriage with her.  They don't realize it, but they need each other to heal.

With the way this book started out, I was afraid it wouldn't be able to recover from the pain and sadness to a point where I could say that I liked the book, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Normally, a book that begins with murder and rape wouldn't be something I'd be able to read, but this one was different.  The events weren't graphic and they were dealt with in a way that didn't make the story too depressing.

Sarah and Clay from the first book are in there, and many references are made to the events in the first book.  Even though I hadn't read Paper Roses in a few years, I was able to follow the story easily.  For this reason, I believe it's safe to read these out of order.

The third book in the series, Tomorrow's Garden, is about Lawrence, the Texas Ranger from this book and a woman named Harriet.  With only Lawrence having a minor role in this book and Harriet a new character, it's pretty safe to say that the series is safely read out of order.  Good Book!

Carousel - Linda Crockett - DTB

This is one of the books I picked out for my 2015 challenge.  I found this book when I was working at a library many moons ago.  Anyone who knows me, or has walked in my house, knows that I am a total carousel nut.  I have carousel horses on the walls, porcelain carousel figures in my kitchen and numerous carousel art books.  I even tried to carve a small one out of wood once (I discovered I didn't have the natural talent for that). Also my childhood dog's name was Crockett.  It was like the book was meant for me!

Anyway, on to the review!

Meredith gets a call that a wealthy man has left her his estate and fortune.  She soon discovers that the woman she's called "mother" all these years isn't her biological mother, but is actually her aunt.  Her real mother was trapped in an unhappy marriage and disappeared.  It's believed that she ran off with the Gypsy man who was restoring a carousel for her.

Meredith is drawn to the story of her real parents and throws herself into the project that they started.  She brings in experts to help her restore the carousel.  As the group looks closer at the carousel, they're finding small details that can be disturbing and a little creepy.  They're also seeing how Meredith's father tried to counteract the bad vibes that were originally carved into the carousel.  The professor of the group is a little too enthusiastic about the Gypsy roots and the destiny he sees in the overall story.

The professor is willing to do what it takes to have this story turn out the way he wants it to.  He wants Meredith to turn her back on her family and fall in love with the artist in charge.  He does this with well-timed comments and drugs.  He becomes so obsessed with the story, he gets progressively more bold and disturbing in his manipulations.

This book was creepier than I remembered.  It's not scary in a way you would expect.  It's almost worse than the creepy monster under the bed types because the professor is someone the whole family sees as a friend.  They don't start seeing the darker side of him until much later.  He's the wolf in sheep's clothing that you never see coming.

Overall, this is a great book.  There's a ton of fine detail about carousel restoration, which appealed to me.  You're in the professor's head from the start, so revealing him as a villain isn't really giving anything away, but his character is creepy because of how well he hides his true nature.

Sadly, this book isn't available in ebook format.  It's not even in print anymore, which is a shame.  If you happen to see this book in a used book store somewhere and you love carousels, pick this up.  It's a great book that I plan on reading again a few years from now.

To Win Her Favor (Belle Meade Plantation #2) - Tamera Alexander

This book is the second one in the Belle Meade Plantation series.  The first book, To Whisper Her Name, came out in 2012.

Maggie dreams of seeing her racehorse, Bourbon Belle, run in an upcoming race.  Her family’s home is on the verge of being auctioned off, and if they don’t come up with an answer soon, they’re going to lose it all.  Her jockey is moving away and it seems like all hope is lost.

Cullen has come to America to escape being imprisoned for something he didn’t do, but ends up with a broken heart.  Now, he’s come to Nashville to try and buy some land and honor his wife’s wishes.  The problem is, there’s so much prejudice that he people won’t give him any credit or let him participate in any auctions.  Cullen meets Maggie’s father one day.  Her father is a sick man and wants to do what he can to secure a stable future for her.

Maggie’s father offers to let Cullen buy the plantation for less money, but he has to marry his daughter and promise to take care of her.  Cullen isn’t fond of the idea at first, but after some thought, agrees.  Maggie knows that her father is ill, so she ends up agreeing to the marriage as well.  She’d thought he was handsome until he opened his mouth.  The Irish brogue puts her off, because she’s been taught that the Irish are not to be trusted and are fond of fighting and drinking.

As these two come to know each other better, Maggie is challenged about the way she views Cullen and also the former slaves that he’s now employing.  At first, she’s embarrassed by the thought she has to claim this Irishman as her husband, but her views slowly change until she questions everything she’s known her entire life.  It makes it easier when Cullen has the patience of a saint!

I liked this book a lot.  Normally, anything to do with horses appeals to me anyway, but this story was great.  The way the author dealt with the topic of prejudice was eye-opening.  There are scenes of violence and lynching in there, but I think it was handled in a good way.  There’s also a few moments of marital bliss, but it was tame enough that it didn’t make this prude blush.

You can read this book alone.  I didn’t see any mentions of the main characters from the first book in there.  I came to sympathize a great deal with one of the minor characters, Savannah, and was glad to read there would be a novella about her coming out in July 2015.  To Mend a Dream will tell her story and I look forward to it.  Recommended.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Whenever You Come Around (Kings Meadow Romance #3) - Robin Lee Hatcher

This is the third book in the King’s Meadow Romance series.  The first one is called A Promise Kept and the second is called Love Without End.

Charity has avoided King’s Meadow for years now.  She’s never told anyone the secrets of her past and doesn’t plan to start now.  Since her home is being remodeled, she’s staying at her parent’s home.  Being an author, she’s been tasked to create a book in a genre she knows nothing about: romance.  She plans on avoiding everyone, but when her dog causes her handsome neighbor to break some bones, she feels guilty and agrees to help him out.

Buck hasn’t considered settling down.  Watching the pain his parents went through, he plans to just guard his heart from love.  Charity quickly breaks down his walls and makes her way into his heart.  He knows she’s holding something back, but he wants her to trust him.

As these two come to accept their feelings for each other, there’s going to be some roadblocks placed in their way.  Getting past them is going to take everything Charity’s got, and she’s going to have to let the past be in the past.  The ending was sweet, and I liked the book overall.  I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest (Medieval Fairy Tales #1) - Melanie Dickerson

The Swan Princess with a twist.

This is the first book in a new series called A Medieval Fairy Tale.

Being attracted to the forester is a real problem for Odette since she’s been poaching on the margrave’s land.  Odette feels a deep need to help feed the poor, orphaned children in Thornbeck and that means sneaking out almost every night and killing deer.  Her uncle knows about her nightly activities, but he wants her to settle down and get married.  And he has just the person in mind…

Odette meets Jorgen and she’s instantly attracted to him.  He’s not exactly the man her uncle has in mind.  She’s held off getting married, not only because she hasn’t met the right man, but she knows she won’t be able to continue feeding the poor.  No husband in their right mind is going to want his wife poaching deer.

Odette has a suitor that would be wealthy enough she could continue to help the poor, but she can’t get Jorgen out of her mind.  But he’s below her station and he’s going to hate her if he ever finds out she’s the poacher making his life more difficult.

This book started out a bit slow for me, but picked up quickly.  You’re able to pick up elements of The Swan Princess in there, but it’s retold in an interesting and enjoyable way.  I was more partial to Jorgen’s character, but Odette had grown on me by the end.  Overall, I liked this book and look forward to the next one in the series.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bethany House sale this week - 8 books FREE!

I like to keep an eye out for price drops and books that are offered for free for a limited time.  Starting May 12, Bethany House will be offering 8 great books for sale until the 19th!  All links are to my reviews.  Who doesn't love a free book?!

Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings
A nice take on the story of Ruth and Boaz.  It's the first book in the Ladies of Caldwell County series.

No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig
The start to the Edge of Freedom series, this book can be read alone but is part of a larger story line that continues through the next two books.

At Every Turn by Anne Mateer
This book tells the story of Alyce, who dares to drive in the early days of the automobile, when it wasn't really an accepted thing for women to do.

Submerged by Dani Pettrey
This is the first book in the Alaskan Courage series.  With danger, suspense and romance, this well written book is a real winner.

Made to Last by Melissa Tagg
A contemporary romance, this first book in the Where Love Begins series is a cute read I enjoyed even though I'm not much of a contemporary romance reader.

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano
Jen Turano has quickly become one of the authors I look forward to reading.  This is the first book in the Ladies of Distinction series and tells the story of an heiress in disguise.

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
I love everything written by this author.  This one is a neat story of overcoming the past and getting past what's on the surface.

Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade
Even though this author isn't one of my favorites, this book is about two people that initially start out working against each other, but start having feelings for each other.

Tiffany Girl - Deeanne Gist

I love almost all of Deeanne Gist’s novels.  This is another one that has connections to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.  The others that did that were It Happened at the Fair and Fair Play.

Flossie’s father has gambled away more money and now Flossie won’t be able to continue taking her painting classes.  She’s not willing to give up and decides to become a Tiffany Girl and a New Woman.  She moves out, much to the chagrin of her parents, and moves into a boardinghouse.

Reeve is the boarder next door.  He finds Flossie to be an annoyance, especially since she doesn’t know how to be quiet.  With paper thin walls, he hears more than his share of her conversations with her roommate.  He doesn’t agree with her becoming a New Woman, and since he’s a writer for the newspaper, he has a platform to air his opinions.

Flossie’s an only child and has decided that the other boarders are her new family.  She spruces up dinner times by arranging everyone’s seating and playing parlor games.  She tries to draw out Reeve, but he resists her attempts for as long as he can.  Eventually though, he finds some huge holes in the wall around his heart, and she’s the one who put them there.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.  Being on the prudish side, I was blushing a little at the end, but there wasn’t anything I would consider inappropriate.  As usual, I loved the author’s note at the end and there’s some really neat pictures in there that add to the story.  The cover is super cute and I can see myself picking this book up even if I’d never read one of this author’s books before.

The characters from the other books pop up, but you can read any of them out of order and you’ll be fine.  Each is its own story, but each one is great and I recommend all of them.  Good Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Howard Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Falcon (The Quiet Professionals #3) - Ronie Kendig

This is the third book in The Quiet Professionals series.  The first two are Raptor 6 and Hawk.  I recommend reading them before reading this one.

In this book, we’re finally getting to the bottom of who is behind the cyberattacks on America.  The team finds out there’s a mole, but finding that person isn’t going to be easy.  Lives are on the line and people are getting killed.

The last person Sal wants to see, or work close to, is Cassandra.  They have a past full of mistakes and regrets, and he wants to hate her.  The thing is, he doesn’t.

Cassandra wants to try and make things right with Sal.  She lies to him and the team more than once, severing the tenuous thread that she connects with Sal.  It’s a classic one step forward, ten steps back with them.

Both these characters have guilt about the past, but Sal deals with it in a destructive way.  He’s going to have to stop blaming himself and Cassandra for the past to move on with his life.  I felt for him in some ways, because every time he made some progress with her, he found out she’d been lying about something.  Can’t blame him too much for that one.

The action in this book is basically nonstop.  You’re questioning people’s motives, especially characters you thought you knew.  There’s some pretty significant character injuries/deaths, but keep reading, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I recommend reading these in order due to the fact that the cyberterrorism thing is a thread starting in Raptor 6.  While this is a complete story, you’ll understand more about the characters and the evil they’re hunting if you start at the beginning.  There’s enough hints in there for those who’ve read the previous books, so if you can’t remember exactly what was going on, there’s enough in there to jog your memory.  I just don’t think there’s enough to help if you haven’t read the other books.  I could be wrong, but I think it’s a great series and well worth reading and reading completely.  Great Book!

*I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.